Valve and dosage apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a valve comprising a compartment, a duct extending through, but not communicating with, said compartment, said duct having at least a portion within said compartment which is deformable and said compartment being selectively connectible with means for presurising said compartment and means for depressurising said compartment. The valve may be used for example as part of a dosing apparatus.

v United States Patent [19 1 Nystroem 1 June 25, 1974 1/1972 Larson et a1 417/191 FOREIGN PATENTS R APPLICATIONS 448,212 4/1948 Canada 137/604 [22] Filed; Oct 12, 1972 Primary ExaminerCarlton R. Croyle Assistant ExaminerRichard Shek 1 1 pp 297,116 Attorney, Agent, or FirmBrowne, Beveridge, De-

- Grandi & Kline [30] Foreign Application Priority Data I Oct. 12, 1971 Great Britain 47385/71 [57] ABSTRACT The present invention relates to a valve comprising a [52] U.S. Cl. 417/191, 137/604 compartment a duct extending through, but not 51 Int. Cl F041 s/4s municating with, said compartment, said duet having [581 Field of Search 251/5; 137/604; 417/191 at least a Portion within said compartment which is deformable and said compartment being selectively 5 References Cited connectible with means for presurising said compart- UNITED STATES PATENTS ment and means for depressurising said compartment. Y I The valve may be used for example as part of a closing 2,884,895 5/1959 Lopenskr et al. 118/491 apparatus 2,904,063 9/1959 Wall et a]. '1/5 X 3,l8l,563 5/l965 Giffen 137/604 X 7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 110 44 r A 1o 42 114 103 PATENTEI] JUN 2 5 1974 saw 1 [IF 5 PATENTEDJBHZS 1974 3,819,300

SHEEI 5 OF 5 F/GS . VALVE AND DOSAGE APPARATUS The present invention relates to a valve and to an apparatus for dosing fluids.

According to the present invention a valve comprises a duct extending through, but not communicating with a compartment, at least a portion of said duct within said compartment being deformable (preferably resiliently deformable) and said compartment being selectively connectible with means for pressurising said compartment and-means for depressurising said compartment.

Preferably said means for depressurising the compartment is a source of vacuum.

The duct may e.g., comprise a tube including a de formable tubular portion or it may e.g., be defined between a relatively rigid member and a deformable membrane. 1

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention a valve comprises a duct extending through, but not communicating with, a compartment, at least a portion of said duct within said compartment being deformable (preferably resiliently deformable), and said compartment being in communication with a jet pump in such a manner that said compartment may be selectively pressurised and de-pressurised.

In one especially preferred embodiment of the invention the compartment may be selectively connected to a point subject to the jet medium prior to passing through the restriction in the jet pump (i.e., a source of high pressure) and with a point subject to the jet medium after passing through the restriction in the jet pump (i.e., a source of low pressure).

In a further especially preferred embodiment the compartment is in continuous communication with a point subject to the jet medium after passing through the restriction in the jet pump and a solenoid valve is located further downstream e.g., in the outlet from the jet pump. This solenoid valve may be selectively opened and closed. When the valve is open the compartment is in communication with a source of low pressure and when the solenoid valve is closed the pressure of the jet medium builds up and thus the compartment is in communication with a source of high pressure.

The flexible (i.e., resilient) portion of the valve is such that when the compartment is in communication with a source of high pressure the walls thereof are deformed inwardly thereby closing thevalve. When the compartment is de-pressurised e.g., by connecting it with a source of vacuum the valve opens.

The selective pressurisation and depressurisation of the compartment is preferably controlled by means of a timer which may be adjusted for both pulse time and delay time. One timer may be used to control two or more valves of the invention.

The selective pressurisation and depressurisation of the compartment may, in a further especially preferred embodiment, be controlled by using the well knowntechniques of fluid logics (or fluidics). The present invention thus envisages a valve of the type prefiously described, in which the compartment is pressurised and depressurised using fluidistor technology.

If desired the compartment may contain a number of ducts each having a flexible portion and the flow of a number of liquids may be simultaneously controlled.

Also if desired a single jet pump may be used to control the pressure within a number of compartments each containing a duct having. a flexible portion.

In a further embodiment of the present invention liquid is drawn through said valve by means of a jet pump which may be the same jet pump which is used to pressurise and depressurise the compartment.

The invention therefore also includes an apparatus for dosing fluids in which a jet pump is connected to a valve of the invention such that fluid is drawn through said valve by the jet medium.

In another embodiment of the invention an electrolytic cell is located in the path of liquid from said valve to a jet pump. Liquid to be electrolysed is drawn through the valve and into the cell which owing to the action of the jet pump operates under vacuum.

The valve and dosage unit of the present invention may be utilised for many purposes but it is particularly suitable for controlling the flow of corrosive materials such as hydrochloric acid which could damage a normal solenoid type valve.

The dosage unit of the invention is particularly useful for adding HCl and NaClO to swimming pools. NaClO may be added first through one valve of the invention and HCl added later through another such valve to control the pH of the pool.

The valve and dosage apparatus of the invention may be used for both liquids and gases and may be used for materials which might damage a normal solenoid valve.

The flexible portion of thevalve is self cleaning.

The present invention will now be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. in which:

FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically a dosage apparatus incorporating one form of the valve of the present in vention,

FIG. 2 shows diagrammatically another dosage apparatus incorporating an alternative form of the valve of the present invention,

FIG. 3 shows diagrammatically an arrangement for operating an electrolytic cell undervacuum, and

FIG. 4 shows an alternative arrangement of a part of a valve in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 5 shows diagrammatically a dosage apparatus incorporating another form of valve in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 6 shows diagrammatically a dosage apparatus similar to FIG. 1 but incorporating a different form of valve in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 7 shows diagrammatically a dosage apparatus similar to FIG. 2 but incorporating a different form of valve in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 8 shows diagrammatically a dosage apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, and

FIG. 9 shows diagrammatically the use of a valve of the invention in connection with the addition of a chemical or chemicals to a swimming pool.

Referring now to FIG. 1 a jet pump or aspirator 10 includes a restricted throat 12 an inlet duct 14 and an outlet duct 16. A valve in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally as 18 and comprises a compartment 20'through which a duct 22 passes. The duct 22 includes a tubular portion 24 made of a flexible material e.g., rubber or a corrosion resistant plastics material. The duct 22 communicates at one end with a reservoir 26 containing a dosage fluid e.g., I-ICl and at its other end with a chamber 28 which is also in communication with a duct 30 leading to the low pressure section of the aspirator which will be affected by jet medium leaving the throat 12 of the aspirator in the conventional manner.

The compartment communicates via a duct 32 with a solenoid valve 34 which may selectively connect duct 32 with either duct 36 or duct 38. Duct 36 is in communication with duct and duct 38 is in communication with duct 14. The solenoid valve is operated by means of a timer device 39. In operation fluid is fed through duct 14 into the jet pump and emerges from the restricted throat 12 in the form of a jet thereby creating an area of low pressure just downstream of the restricted throat. This area of low pressure tends to draw fluid from the reservoir 26 through duct 22, chamber 28 and duct 30 to merge with the fluid passing through the jet pump. When it is desired to stop the flow of dosage fluid from the reservoir 26 the solenoid valve 34 is operated to connect duct 32 with duct 38. The compartment 24 is thereby connected with a high pressure source in duct 14. This causes the walls of the flexible tube portion 24 to be pressed together thereby closing the valve 18. To reopen the valve, solenoid valve 34 is operated to connect duct 32 with duct 36. The compartment 20 is thereby connected via duct 32, duct 36 and duct 30 with the low pressure area downstream of the restricted throat 12. In actual operation the solenoid valve 34 is controlled by the timer 39 which may be adjusted to vary the time which the duct 32 is in communication with the duct 38 and the time which the duct 32 is in communication with the duct 36. The dosage fluid is diluted by jet medium returning through duct 36 from compartment 20.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. 2 a second smaller jet pump or aspirator 40 is also provided. The low pressure area surrounding the restricted throat 42 of this jet pump 40 is connected with the compartment 20 by means of a duct or port 44 to thereby provide an activation fluid path into the compartment 20. An inlet 46 to the jet pump 40 is connected to the inlet duct 14 to the jet pump 10 and outlet duct 48 from the jet pump 40 is connected to the outlet duct 16 from the main jet pump 10. A solenoid valve 50 is located in duct 48 and may be selectively operated to open or close the duct 48. The opening and closing of solenoid valve 50 is controlled bya timer 52 which may be adjusted to vary both the time the valve is open and the time the valve is closed.

In operation liquid is drawn from reservoir 26 into the jet pump 10 in the manner described in connection with FIG. 1. When it is desired to cut off the flow of dosage fluid from the reservoir 26 the solenoid valve 50 is closed and the jet medium in jet pump 40 thereby develops an area of high pressure around the exit from the restricted orifice 42. This area is connected by duct 44 with the compartment 20 and the compartment 20 is therefore pressurised thus deforming the flexible tube 24 and closing the valve. To reopen the valve the solenoid valve 50 is opened and the jet pump 40 resumes its normal operation thereby developing an area of vacuum around the exit from the restricted throat 42. The compartment 20 is thereby depressurised and the flexible duct 24 returns to its normal shape thereby allowing dosage fluid to pass from reservoir 26 tothe jet pump 10.

The arrangement shown in FIG. 3 is identical with that of FIG. 1 with the exception that an electrolytic cell is positioned intheduct 30 between the jet pump 10 and the junction with duct 34. In this arrangement the fluid in the reservoir 26 will be theliquid to be electrolysed, for example a saturated solution of sodium chloride and this will be drawn into the cell by the jet pump 10 which will also place the cell under vacuum. Prior to entering the cell 60 the liquid to be electrolysed is diluted by e.g., water from duct 36 returning from the compartment 20. Control of the flow of liquid to the cell will be achieved by the opening and closing of the valve 18.

The arrangement shown in FIG. 4 shows an embodiment wherein the flexible duct 24 is arranged as a generally U-shaped member so that the dosage fluid may be fed into and removed from the same end of the compartment 20.

Referring to FIG. 5 the arrangement shown comprises a valve and a jet pump 110. The valve 100 comprises a housing formed from a pair of members 102, 104 between which a membrane 106 made of rubber or another flexible material, is located. The member 102 is provided with a cavity 108 which defines a compartment. The other member 104 includes an annular channel 110 communicating with an inlet passage 112, and a centrally disposed outlet passage 114. The cavity 108 is connected by a passageway 116 to the jet pump 10 which is similar to the jet pump 10 of FIG. 1. A valve 118 is provided in the outlet 16 from the jet pump 10 and may be selectively opened or closed. The valve is normally a solenoid valve which may be operated in a pulsating manner by a timing device.

In operation the passage of fluid through the passageway 112, the channel 110 which together with membrane 106 forms a duct, and the passageway 1 14 is controlled by a valve 100 which is opened and closed by depressurising and pressurising respectively the compartment 108. To depressurise the compartment 108, the valve 118 is opened. Fluid usually waterpassing through the restricted orifice 12 of the jet pump creates an area of low pressure in the area of the jet pump to which the passageway 116 is connected. The pressure in compartment 108 is thereby reduced causing membrane 106 to move upwards thereby allowing fluid to pass from passageway 112 to passageway 1 14. To pressure the compartment 108 the valve 118 is closed thereby causing a region of high pressure in the jet pump 10 adjacent the connection of passageway 116. By pressurising compartment 108 the membrane 106 is forced against the member 104 thereby closing the connection between passageway 112 and passageway 114.

The arrangement shown in FIG. 6 is similar to that of FIG. 1 with the exception that the valve 18 is replaced by a valve 100 as described in connection with FIG. 5. The arrangement for causing pressurisation and depressurisation of the component is identical with that described in connection with FIG. 1.

The arrangement shown in FIG. 7 is similar to that of FIG. 2 with the exception that the valve 18 is replaced by a valve 100 as described in connection with Fig. 5. The arrangement for causing pressurisation and depressurisation of the compartment is identical with that described in connection with FIG. 2.

The arrangement shown in FIG. 8 is similar to that shown in FIG. 7, but is modified by the inclusion of two valves in accordance with theinvention to enable two dosage fluids to be added to the fluid passing through the jet pump. In addition the jet pumps are shown as being formed in the members 102, 104 which forms part of the two valves. The two valves are identified as 100A and 1008 and each operates in the same manner as described in connection with the valve of FIG. 7. For clarity although the same numberings have been used for similar parts to that used in FIG. 7, the letter A or B has been added to the valve parts and ancilliary parts to distinguish the parts of one valve from the parts of the other. The solenoid valves 50A, 52A; 50B, 528 can be controlled e.g., by two separate but synchronised timers or by a single timer to provide the desired dosages of the two fluids. This embodiment is particularly suitable for the addition of hydrochloric acid and hypochlorite to swimming pools. For example the hyprchlorite may be added to the water entering the pool over a period of hours followed by controlled addition of hydrochloric acid for a period of 1 hour, this process possibly being repeated during the whole of the operating period of the pool. The ratio of the times of addition of hypochlorite and hydrochloric acid may be varied and the selected ratio will probably depend upon the basicity of the hypochlorite solution. As in previous embodiments the timers can also be used to vary the rate of pulsation of the valve. An added advantage of using the arrangement of FIG. 8 is that in addition to neutralization of the base by the hydrochloric acid, where the pool water has a high calcium content, calcium carbonate deposited in the main jet pump as the pool water is circulated therethrough by the pool s circulating pump, is automatically removed by the acid.

Either thewhole of the water from the pools circulating pump, or only a small part thereof, "may be passed through the main jet pump 10. In the latter case preferably about 300 to 400 litres per hour of water is taken from the outlet from the pools circulating pump, passed through the main jet pump 10 of the arrangement of FIG. 8 and then returned to the inlet to:the pools circulating pump. The main jet pump 10 is thus in a by-pass or shunt arrangement. The advantages of blending the added chemicals with large amount of water in the circulating pump are clear. A further advantage of this arrangement is that the water after passing through the pool s circulating pump, passes through the pools filter before entering the pool.

Such an arrangement is shown in FIG. 9 which shows diagrammatically the shunt arrangement just described.

Water from the swimming pool 200 is circulated through duct 202 which has a circulating pump 204 and a filter 206 located therein. Additional water may be added as by duct 208. Downstream of the circulating pump 204 a duct 210 is connected into duct 202. This duct 210 leads into duct 14 of a jet pump 10 forming part of a dosing arrangement (indicated diagrammatically as 212) as shown in one of the FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 outlet 16 from the jet pump is connected via duct 214 into duct 202 upstream of the pump 204.

In operation when it is desired to add chemicals to the pool water, part of the water circulated by pump 204 is diverted through duct 210, into the dosage unit 212 where the required chemicals are added and the water with the added chemical or chemicals is added via duct 214 to the circulating water prior to entering the pump 204.

I claim:

1. A fluid dosing apparatus comprising, in combination, a control valve including a valve body having a fluid-tight cavity formed therein, a diaphragm mounted in said body and dividing said cavity into two chambers, a dosing fluid inlet and a dosing fluid outlet formed in said valve body and communicating with a first of said two chambers and with one another through said first chamber, an actuation fluid port in said valve body providing fluid communication with a second of said two chambers, said diaphragm being deformable in response to fluid pressure changes applied to said second chamber to establish and interrupt said fluid communication between said inlet and said outlet, conduit means connected to said inlet for supplying dosing fluid to said valve, a first venturi-type aspirator, conduit means connecting said outlet to the low pressure area of said first aspirator, a second venturi-type aspirator, conduit means connecting said actuation fluid port to the low pressure area of said second aspirator, means supplying a flow of fluid under pressure through said first and second aspirators whereby a low pressure is created in each of said chambers, and valve means downstream from said actuator fluid conduit for selectively interrupting the flow of pressure fluid through said second aspirator to thereby create a positive pressure in said second chamber.

' 2. The dosing fluid apparatus as defined in claim I wherein said diaphragm normally seals said inlet and said outlet against fluid communication through said first chamber, and wherein said diaphragm is deflected by a reduction in pressure in said second chamber to establish fluid communication therebetween.

3. The fluid dosing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve means comprises a solenoid actuated valve, and timer means operatively connected to said solenoid valve to control actuation thereof.

4. The dosing fluid apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and said second aspirators are connected in parallel in a common pressure fluid circulating system.

5. The dosing fluid apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said control valve body comprises a pair of block members retained in overlying fluid-tight relation with said diaphragm disposed therebetween, and wherein said one of said chambers is formed in one of said block members and said other chamber is formed in the other of said block members in opposed relation thereto with said diaphragm extending therebetween. 6. The fluid dosing apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of said control valves each having its dosing fluid outlet connected to the low pressure area of said first aspirator and its actuator fluid port connected to the low pressure area of said second aspirator, said control valves having their dosing fluid inlets adapted to be connected to separate sources of dosing fluid.

7. The fluid dosing apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of said first aspirators and conduit means connecting said dosing fluid outlet to each of said first aspirators in the low pressure area thereof whereby dosing fluid flowing through said control valve may be delivered into a plurality of fluid systerns. 

1. A fluid dosing apparatus comprising, in combination, a control valve including a valve body having a fluid-tight cavity formed therein, a diaphragm mounted in said body and dividing said cavity into two chambers, a dosing fluid inlet and a dosing fluid outlet formed in said valve body and communicating with a first of said two chambers and with one another through said first chamber, an actuation fluid port in said valve body providing fluid communication with a second of said two chambers, said diaphragm being deformable in response to fluid pressure changes applied to said second chamber to establish and interrupt said fluid communication between said inlet and said outlet, conduit means connected to said inlet for supplying dosing fluid to said valve, a first venturi-type aspirator, conduit means connecting said outlet to the low pressure area of said first aspirator, a second venturi-type aspirator, conduit means connecting said actuation fluid port to the low pressure area of said second aspirator, means supplying a flow of fluid under pressure through said first and second aspirators whereby a low pressure is created in each of said chambers, and valve means downstream from said actuator fluid conduit for selectively interrupting the flow of pressure fluid through said second aspirator to thereby create a positive pressure in said second chamber.
 2. The dosing fluid apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said diaphragm normally seals said inlet and said outlet against fluid communication through said first chamber, and wherein said diaphragm is deflected by a reduction in pressure in said second chamber to establish fluid communication therebetween.
 3. The fluid dosing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve means comprises a solenoid actuated valve, and timer means operatively connected to said solenoid valve to control actuation thereof.
 4. The dosing fluid apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and said second aspirators are connected in parallel in a common pressure fluid circulating system.
 5. The dosing fluid apparAtus as defined in claim 1 wherein said control valve body comprises a pair of block members retained in overlying fluid-tight relation with said diaphragm disposed therebetween, and wherein said one of said chambers is formed in one of said block members and said other chamber is formed in the other of said block members in opposed relation thereto with said diaphragm extending therebetween.
 6. The fluid dosing apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of said control valves each having its dosing fluid outlet connected to the low pressure area of said first aspirator and its actuator fluid port connected to the low pressure area of said second aspirator, said control valves having their dosing fluid inlets adapted to be connected to separate sources of dosing fluid.
 7. The fluid dosing apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of said first aspirators and conduit means connecting said dosing fluid outlet to each of said first aspirators in the low pressure area thereof whereby dosing fluid flowing through said control valve may be delivered into a plurality of fluid systems. 